The government in the Australian state of New South Wales has unveiled a $24m support package for live music that will help give financial support to 150 venues.

This relief package follows a year of shutdowns and reduced capacity due to the continuation of social distancing.

Recipients of the funding were announced last weekend by Stuart Ayres who is Australia’s minister of Jobs, Investment and Tourism. Speaking with the Sydney Morning Herald, Stuart Ayres said that the money given to venues would “allow them to keep the doors open and get back to work putting on gigs.”

Some of the venues confirmed to be receiving a government payment include the Burdekin Hotel, Club 77, Home Nightclub, Kings Cross Hotel, Lord Gladstone, Mary’s Underground, The Marlborough Hotel, Oxford Art Factory, The Imperial Hotel, The Lansdowne Hotel, Bridge Hotel and Red Rattler.

There are over 40 venues located in the City of Sydney, and a total of 85 in Greater Sydney, plus a further 77 in the New South Wales state that will each receive funds from the $24m relief package.

Each individual venue could apply for up to $750,000 in funding to help them cover operational costs including things like hiring staff and booking musicians.

Emily Collins is managing director of the charitable organisation ‘Music NSW’ and she gave a statement saying the relief package is a “lifeline’ for the sector”, then adding “It’ll help venues recover from the huge financial impacts incurred over the last 12 months, and support them as they continue to operate in an uncertain market and one person per two square metres restrictions. 

“Quick-response measures are important in controlling COVID-19 spread in NSW, but it also wreaks havoc on the viability of the live performance industry.”

H/T: Stoney Roads